25 Sep 2011

1912 Antarctic drawings to go on display

7:37 pm on 25 September 2011

Drawings from Captain Scott's ill-fated expedition to the Antarctic in January 1912 are to go on public display in London for the first time next month.

The BBC reports pencil sketches depict the moment the explorer and his team discovered Roald Amundsen of Norway had beaten them to the South Pole.

Team member Edward Wilson drew Amundsen's flag which told them they were not first to reach the pole.

The exhibition will be held at the Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace.

Another drawing shows Wilson's depiction of a cairn built by the Norwegians a few miles from the pole, along with their flag.

Scott's party died as they tried to return to base, short of supplies and suffering from starvation and hypothermia.

The sketches were uncovered when the remains of Wilson, Scott and Bowers were discovered. Evans' body was never found.

Official photographs, artefacts and memorabilia from Captain Scott and Sir Ernest Shackleton's expeditions will feature in the expedition.

Shackleton attempted to cross Antarctica from 1914 - 1916. The quest ended when his ship was crushed in the ice and he had to sail 800 miles to South Georgia for a rescue party for his team.